Inclusion Of LGBTI In The Domestic Implementation Of The New Urban Agenda

On the Urban Stage, and as part of the Quito Implementation Plan, Canada and the United States will commit to ensure that LGBTI persons are included in the domestic implementation of the New Urban Agenda and call on fellow Member Countries to join us.

Canada and the United States strongly support the Habitat III guiding principle of leaving no one behind. Both countries view diversity in cities as a source of strength and pride. Throughout the negotiations of the New Urban Agenda, Canada, the United States and many other Member Countries advocated for many vulnerable and under-represented groups to be officially recognized in the New Urban Agenda. Fortunately, many are included, such as youth, women, children, immigrants, Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities.

The LGBTI community has unique vulnerabilities including disproportionate and extreme violence, discrimination and, in most of the world, lack of human rights protection. Cities are often where LGBTI people to go find community, but instead often find discrimination and violence. Despite many countries efforts to have them included in the Call for Action of the New Urban Agenda, unfortunately, LGBTI persons have been left out.

The human rights of all persons are universal and indivisible. To this end, Canada and the United States call on fellow Member States to ensure, as they implement the New Urban Agenda at home, they leave no one behind, including the LGBTI community. It is time to end violence and discrimination in our communities that target individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The session will feature a series of presentations. The first will be delivered by a civil society organization and international advocate for LGBTI rights. The subsequent presentations will be delivered by Heads of Delegations for Member States wishing to commit to ensure that LGBTI persons are included in the domestic implementation of the New Urban Agenda.